Workers and community members from across the state are gearing up to make their voices heard and participate in democracy this week at the Capitol in order to STOP anti-worker Right to Work legislation in Wisconsin.

You can participate by attending one of the following rallies:

12 Noon - Tuesday, February 24th - Rally on the State Street side of the Capitol in Madison.

12 Noon - Wednesday, February 25th - Rally on the State Street side of the Capitol in Madison.

WFNHP Local 5001's Connie Smith, surgical tech at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee, waited for hours to testify before the Senate Committee on Labor & Government yesterday, but was cut off when Senator Nass abruptly ended testimony, thereby shutting down the democratic process, to ram through a vote on the anti-worker Right to Work bill.

Attempting to silence the voices of its workers is a shameful way to conduct public policy in our state.

Milwaukee, WI--Today's decision by the Wisconsin State Supreme Court reducing retiree benefits for County nurses once again demonstrates how politics now control our legal system, rather than the rule of law. As we have seen over the last few years, the majority of our State Supreme Court makes decisions based on politics--not on the law. As Justice Abrahamson stated in her dissent, the decision was not supported by any legal theory or even legal briefs. It is cold comfort to these retired and retiring nurses that Justice Prosser admits that this decision is a "betrayal of trust to loyal employees."

This decision is clearly just one more attack on working families. First, the State strips away the right to bargain contracts that would have protected these benefits. Now, the Court continues this attack on dedicated nurses who have devoted their working lives in service to their communities.

We are deeply disappointed, but no longer surprised by the actions of this Court.

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The Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals is a division of AFT Nurses & Health Professionals, which represents more than 120,000 nurses and other healthcare professionals.